A Nearly 3,500 years ago God commanded Moses to construct a tabernacle so He could have a “dwelling” place for His presence within the Children of Israel during their wandering in the wilderness.

1 Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell (ve-shakhan-ti) among them. 9 According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall construct it. Ex 25:8-9 (NASB)

a The tabernacle was a portable dwelling place for the presence of God while the Jews wandered in the wilderness of Canaan. (Before Solomon’s Temple)